Opening Night of ANABRANCH: Alabama’s Celebration of Literature and the Humanities

Join us for Opening Night of ANABRANCH: Alabama’s Celebration of Literature and the Humanities, in conjunction with the 14th annual Alabama Book Festival.  Kick off ANABRANCH with two distinguished Alabama natives – Imani Perry and André Holland – who will discuss their respective careers and Alabama roots, along with thoughts about 200 years of statehood and the usefulness of the humanities to Alabama’s future.

Imani Perry (born in Birmingham) is an interdisciplinary scholar of race, law, literature, and African American culture. She is currently the Hughes-Rogers Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University.  Author of five books, Perry has published numerous articles on law, cultural studies, and African American studies as well.  One of her most recent books, Looking for Lorraine: The Radiant and Radical Life of Lorraine Hansberry, was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and won the 2019 PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography.

André Holland (born in Bessemer) is an actor and producer. Recipient of accolades for his performance as Kevin in the Academy Award- winning film Moonlight, Holland is also well known for his work as sportswriter Wendell Smith in 42 (2013), as activist Andrew Young in Selma (2014), as Principal Jenkins in A Wrinkle in Time (2018) and, most recently, as the lead actor in High Flying Bird (2019).  Holland is also well known for television roles in The Knick (2014–2015) and American Horror Story: Roanoke (2016).  On stage, Holland has starred in August Wilson’s play “Jitney” (2017) on Broadway and in London in the Globe Theatre’s production of “Othello” (2018).

RSVP to the Alabama Humanities Foundation to attend.

Funded project of the Alabama Humanities Foundation, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.